Third eye catches thief in two hours flat

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The closed-circuit television cameras helped the Gandhi Maidan police on Friday to crack a theft case within a couple of hours of the incident.

The police said one Akhilesh Kahar was arrested soon after he escaped with a bag containing Rs 1.66 lakh in cash and other valuables by an autorickshaw. Kahar, a resident of Bakrganj under the jurisdiction of the Kadamkuan police station, had mysteriously taken away the bag belonging to Munna Kumar.

Munna was travelling by an autorickshaw from the Gandhi Maidan to Gai Ghat. The activities of the suspect were captured on a closed-circuit television camera installed near the Bakrganj intersection, which eventually led to the arrest of Kahar and the recovery of the stolen bag. Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj said the police personnel deputed at the hi-tech control room and men-in-uniform at the Gandhi Maidan police station would be suitably rewarded for helping in the cracking of the case with the help of closed-circuit television cameras.

Over 100 closed-circuit television cameras have been installed in different locations of the city such as Dakbungalow intersection, Gandhi Maidan, Kargil Chowk, Patna Medical College and Hospital, Income Tax roundabout, R-Block roundabout and Patna Junction. So far, the closed-circuit television cameras have helped the men-in-uniform to crack three to four major incidents of robbery and kidnapping.

Efforts are on to install an additional 60 closed-circuit television cameras by the end of March. The idea is to ensure check crime and violations of traffic rules and regulations.